Knott Creek Reservoir

High Desert Flyfishing at Knott Creek

Northern Nevada won’t make it onto many folk’s list of blue-ribbon trout fishing destinations. We happen to have a few unknown gems, but overall it just doesn’t hit the radar for most. One of those little jewels is a high-desert reservoir located hours from anywhere. Knott Creek Reservoir is a little 100-plus acre pond northeast of Winnemucca, Nevada, that is stocked with healthy rainbow trout. The NDOW website also proclaims that cutbows and tiger trout cruise these waters. Less than a mile wide at its widest point, it still attracts its fair share of hopeful anglers at season open and into the summer.

At about 6,470 feet in elevation, Knott Creek is nestled in a tight little high-desert valley that may be better described as the head of a canyon. Granite boulders and cliffs dominate the landscape with mountain mahogany and sagebrush completing much of the visual. Shores are gently sloping in most parts of the lake and fishing from shore is productive almost everywhere. Water is clear enough to allow casting to individual fish. 

My Plan

My buddy and I meet once every year or so to hunt chukar together in northern Nevada. Over those years, we’ve threatened to do some fly fishing but it just hadn’t happened. This year, he invited my wife and I to join he and his wife for a camping trip in June. Since the weekend he proposed was pretty much my only free weekend in June, we agreed.

The best laid plans don’t always come to fruition, and the girls backed out as their weekends called to them in different ways. No matter, Mark’s father Ed was joining him and they had a mutual friend invited for a day later, so plans were set. I was excited to find another unexplored Nevada fishing hole and looking forward to spending time with my friend and his father.

Simple Trip

I left out of my home in Spring Creek around 8:00 am en route to Winnemucca before turning north toward Denio, Nevada. Five hours later, I’d turned onto a county road that got progressively more cobbly as I went. I only made one wrong turn that cost me about 40 minutes before I found my way onto the final road into the lake.

That final climb into Knott Creek is definitely a four-wheel drive road. The climb in took about 30 minutes over some fairly large boulders and washouts. It wasn’t challenging 4WD, but it was the kind that eats trailers and maintained your attention. I arrived at the camp on the reservoir about 2:30, including the stop at the store in Spring Creek, a stop for gas in Winnemucca, and my sightseeing detour.

Hidden Treasure

I was surprised to find about a dozen camps at this little lake. According to Mark, his friend said the reservoir looked like a bowl full of cheerios on opening weekend (float tubes are the norm). Apparently some major outdoor magazine put this little site on one of its “Top 10” lists at some point, making it far more popular than it otherwise would have been. Anyway, the first thing I noticed was all of the boats were of the style you could put in the back of your truck. This included float tubes, tiny johnboats, and canoes, although on day two a trailered drift boat was drug up the trail by some intrepid angler. Be aware, you need an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) sticker to launch at this reservoir.

Anyway, I quickly grabbed a beer and made camp so I could sit around and visit for a bit. Mark and his dad had taken a midday break and it was a relaxing way to come into camp. After an hour or so of lounging about, we all struck out to make our fame on the water. I paddled about, not really knowing what I was doing and came up empty. It was nothing to paddle all the way around the little lake. I’m way past the point of being too concerned when the fish aren’t biting, so I paddled back to dinner.

First Blood

As we were finishing off post-dinner drinks and watching the sunset shadow climb the adjacent peak, we suddenly heard an exclamation. While we were sipping scotch, Ed had wandered down to the shore and was tossing a midge in the shallow mirror-surfaced water and had hooked up. Leave it to the more experienced angler to know when not to quit!

Not to pass on opportunity, Mark and I re-rigged with small dry flies, with me trying a number 14 mosquito. It didn’t take long for us to get some additional action as several trout in the 15 to 17 inch range made it to shore. Of course the larger ones seemed to get away each time. Mark and I never did overcome Ed’s head-start on us and he ended up landing more fish than either of us! It was a short window of action and Ed made the most of it on our behalf!

A Few Lessons

The weekend we were there the trout were a bit finicky. I hooked into about six or seven fish in two half-day stints. Mark and Ed seemed to be on a similar pace. Apparently, the guys using leeches and San Juan worm patterns at 8 to 12 feet seemed to be hooked up more than others. We tried some of that and failed, but still had a great time trying.

There are deeper waters in the middle where the trolling folks were hooking up that day. Mark and I tried our luck on the southwest bank which drops off from a sandy shore to six or eight feet of water relatively quickly. We had some luck coaxing trout out of the weeds to leach and small dark streamer patterns. Don’t forget that Ed taught us a lesson with dry flies in the flats on the north end the previous evening.

Recap

I’ve had some better days and a whole bunch of worse days as far as the bite went. Even though Mark explained this was a slow couple of days, I always felt like I was in the hunt for a fish. I don’t think I ever went two hours without hooking up, and that works pretty well for me. Knott Creek Reservoir provides for a wide range of summer fly rod action, with so many habitats represented.

I fished the entire trip with my 5-weight floating line, but most of the time my long nymph leader sections were intended to be fished at four to eight feet of depth. The clear water allowed me to see about half of my strikes. Every single hit I had, and hence fish I landed, happened while I was standing on the shore. I did fish from my inflatable boat and Mark’s small aluminum craft, but that seemed to be the kiss of death for my success.

If You Go to Knott Creek

Getting there isn’t real easy. You take Highway 95 north out of Winnemucca about 31.5 miles to the junction with state route 140. After turning left on 140 it is about 36.4 miles to the Leonard Creek Rest Area, where you turn left onto a paved road. In about 8 miles you will come to a junction and I believe if memory serves, this is where pavement ends (if not sooner). A right turn takes you across the valley to the west and into and through a ranch yard. Slow down! Here comes the tricky part: from the ranch it is about 11.7 miles to a two-track right turn off the main road on Cove Creek. If you get onto this road you’re golden. If you do like me, the results will vary and time will be added!

According to Google, you now only have six (slow) miles to go to Knott Creek reservoir. It is a good road, but it is steep and rocky, so make sure you have high-clearance vehicles and trailers. Most boats make the trip on the roof of the truck, but a few crazy folks will drag trailers up this road. I wouldn’t, at least not on my first trip. Be aware there are a few slippery muddy spots in the road, but it isn’t a real technical 4WD trip, just a simple rock-dodge.

Worth It

The trip is so worth it. Knott Creek is a long way even from Winnemucca. If I remember right it is closer to three hours than two from there. Once you get there, this is truly a high-desert gem and the water is cool and clear. Mahogany trees come from the east peak to nearly the shoreline and sunsets light this slope up spectacularly.

The reputation of this reservoir is one of large and hungry fish. While my visit didn’t confirm (or deny) this, I can see that it is a special place. We were mosquito-free for the most part during my short stay. There were a few more camps than I’m used to, perhaps just short of a dozen. It didn’t take away from the excellent fun, adventure, and comradery I experienced on this most enjoyable journey. I think maybe I will go back this year!